Neba Solo

The musical conversation that became A Djinn and a Hunter Went Walking began more than a decade ago. Haïdara and Gold first thought of combining these two instruments from different Malian cultures while preparing to record the legendary vocalist Oumou Sangaré’s Seya for World Circuit. Despite their cultures’ geographic proximity, the instruments Neba Solo and Diakité play do not often interact: Neba Solo is from Kenedougou, where the balafon was traditionally played in the fields to inspire farmers, and Diakité is from the nearby Wassoulou region, where the culture revolves around hunting. Gold had heard a balafon player in a Bamako restaurant and immediately thought the sound of the instrument might complement Sangaré’s record.

They invited Neba Solo to the Seya sessions, where the rising bala star hit it off with the band, developing a strong musical rapport with Diakité, a donso n’goni veteran. Sensing chemistry bubbling through ad-libbed music the two played warming up, Gold and Haïdara encouraged the two to explore further, and the session that became A Djinn and a Hunter Went Walking was arranged. Neba Solo brought a balafon he had customized with an extended bass register, and Diakité brought his deepest donso n’goni.